Aliyah Gold

Gettin' Published...

2011-12-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

I am happy to be a part of this year's exhibition in Print in Metalsmith Magazine. Sorry I failed to write a post when the issue hit the shelves. I figured I could post in time for the actual exhibition which is being showcased at the Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. Below is a link to the Museums website.

http://www.metalmuseum.org/fresh

I am also happy to announce that one of my rings was include in NEWRINGS: 500+ designs from around the world by Nicholas Estrada and in Thomas Manns new book, Metal Artist's Workbench: Demystifying the Jeweler's Saw

Posts of new work coming soon...

Jewelry workshop with Taiwanese students

2011-08-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure to teach a wonderful group of students from Taiwan during a 2 week workshop at University of the Arts. I must admit that before the class began I had my doubts. However, the class was an absolute success mostly due to our fabulous ESL staff, Dr. Lin, my wonderful assistant Melissa Guglielmo , and of course the students themselves! The class was on small metal forging and forming and in order to get credit the students needed to make 3 projects with only about 45 hours to work in the studio! Insane I know but where there is a will there is a way.

Below are just a few pictures of the work the students made

The chased cat eye bracelet above is by Yi Bang, the only grad student in the group. He has a wonderful way of thinking three dimensionally that is so different from my own thought process that I can't help but be amazed

The forged ring above is by Fanny and my photo does not do it justice but it is supposed to be a goat sleeping.

This bird fibula was made by Ariel who I think may have made the most pieces during the class

This bracelet is by Ho-Lin

Rather than show everyone's piece individually above is a photo that perfectly illustrates how their creativity surrounded everything they touched.

And of course we ended with a little party in the crafts conference room. I hope to stay in touch and one day take my new Taiwanese friends up on their offer to come visit!

some new stuff

2011-08-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Award Ribbons

2011-05-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few other new pieces...
Blue Leather Ribbon brooch
Leather, sterling , stainless

Gator Grain Ribbon brooch
Alligator grain, sterling, stainless

Snake Skin Ribbon brooch
Snake skin, sterling, stainless

Snake Skin Ribbon earrings
snake skin, sterling

New Work 1

2011-05-05T20:04:00.001-07:00

As the semester is ending I am finally finding the time to attend my much neglected blog. Rather than dump a bunch of images all onto one post I am going to try and spread them out onto a few.

Below is a process shot as well as the finished enameled brooch
Front View:

Back View:
Snake Head Brooch
Enamel, silver, tourmaline, stainless steel

Defensive Ornament

2011-05-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

I am honored to be a part of the Defensive Ornament exhibit at the G. Gibson Gallery. If you are attending the SNAG conferences feel free to stop by the closing reception on May 27th and send me a few pictures of the exhibit as I am unable to attend.

Interview on love to know

2010-09-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of being interviewed for the Love to Know web site. You can check it out at:

http://jewelry.lovetoknow.com/Wild_Animal_Art_Jewelry_Interview

Article on AJF

2010-09-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

Great article by Cindi Strauss on Art Jewelry Forum which features my work and some other great artists from schools like SUNY New Paltz and University of the Arts:

At the Crossroads of Trends and Traditions: Emerging American Jewelry Artists Today

Tussie-Mussie

2010-09-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

I apologize as this post is long over due. But what can I say its been a whirlwind of a summer. I spent about 7 weeks of the summer teaching at Belvoir Terrace, an all girls summer art camp in Lenox, MA. It was a wonderful experience and I am so grateful for the chance to work with so many talented artists, both on staff and the students themselves. I am also grateful for the chance to use the studio which was in the basement of what was called the "house" but was actually a beautiful mansion built in the 1890s.

This space served my needs perfectly as I had been asked to make a Tussie-Mussie for my friend Katja's wedding. A tussie-mussie (or Hussy tussy as my students preferred to call it) was mostly used in victorian times to hold a small bouquet of flowers that was normally given as a gift from an admirer. Each flower is meant to have a significant meaning so that the giver could communicate his/her feelings non-verbally. The bouquet was also meant to mask the orders of the Victorian woman. These small bouquets were held in ornate flower vases. They often were attached to a ring on a chain so that the wearer could have her hands free while it dangled from her finger. Below is the Tussie-Mussie holder I made. The second picture is from the wedding. As in the tradition of Tussie-Mussie, Kate picked out each flower in the bouquet for it's significant meaning. Congrats Katja and Andy!

cake server

2010-06-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

I recently found some old photos on my camera that I had meant to post. I apologize for the delay as these are from nearly a year ago. My talented friends Yoko and Sean McMullen got married last August and they had asked me to carve the handles for their cake knife and server. It was a fun collaborative piece as Sean had made the blades. Their wedding was beautiful and was even featured on the Knot Magazine, fall/winter 2010 issue Pages 76-80. You can check out the work by Yoko and Sean at www.yns-design.com

New Website!

2010-06-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

I finally took some decent photos of my work and took the time to change up my website a bit. check it out at www.aliyahgold.com.

On a side note you can see my Serpentine Rings, as well as some other fabulous rings at ZUZU studio gallery this Saturday from 6-9 for the Opening of "Put A Ring On It"

"ZUZU pulls out all the stops to showcase over 100 eye-catching, handmade rings ranging from demure to outrageous. Channel your inner diva as you experience the most innovative and unexpected collection of one-of-a-kind hand candy seen this side of the Delaware."

Saturday June 12th from 6-9pm

@ Zuzu Studio Gallery

577 Haddon Avenue

Collingswood, NJ, 08108

MFA Thesis Opening

2010-05-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

I'm still recovering from the last 2 weeks but the opening went better than I could have asked for. Thank you to everyone that came and a special thanks for all the flowers and gifts! I will be taking better pictures of the work but here are some to give you an idea of the work

You can check out some of the amazing work from other artists in the exhibition here.

Thesis Show!!

2010-04-16T17:08:00.001-07:00

Animal as Material
Aliyah Gold: MFA Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition
Opening reception: May 21^st from 7:30 – 9:00pm
Exhibition: May 21^st -25^th from 11:00am – 5:00pm

State University of New York at New Paltz
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art
1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY 12561
Phone: 845.257.3844

updated website

2009-12-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

It only took me almost two years but i finally got around to updating my website.
Not having studio access is really forcing me to confront all the tasks I have been putting off. January 11th can not come soon enough. Although I am sure by the time the studio reopens I will have fully adjusted to my couch-potato ways. Hope you are all enjoying the holidays!

Snakes, Mice, & News

2009-12-13T12:14:00.000-08:00

Snakeskin Mouse Brooch
Materials: Sknakeskin, Sterling silver, Fine silver, stainless steel

The semester is almost over but that doesn't mean the work is over. Above is a brooch that I put the finishing touches on this week...that touch being the double loop in loop tail. It had been a while and I had forgotten the meditative state making a loop in loop chain can take you to. I highly recommend it.

I spent a good chunk of the semester working on a snake-like necklace. I would post pictures but I am planning to revisit the clasp over the break as it is still not quite right. I have taken the entire necklace apart so many times now that I think it has become quite an epic piece. I just hope it will all be worth it in the end.

Currently I am working on a Snakeskin clutch purse that fill conclude the sake series. Sorry, pictures of that either. I've decided not to post any progress shots until the piece is actually finished.

In other news, the Swarm necklace is actually in the Craftforms 2009 exhibition held at the Wayne Arts Center. The show is up until January 23rd so if your around the area check it out. Tybre Newcomer, a fellow grad's husband is also in the show.

I also have a couple pieces in ARTspace at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center as part of their One & Only: Gifts Made by Hand. The show will be up till January 17th. Below is a picture of the installation that Katie Travers, the exhibition intern was nice enough to send.

just a quck post of a new piece

2009-11-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

20 Rings
Materials: sterling silver and stingray skin

A few of the 10 pieces

2009-09-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Below are a few pieces from the 10 piece we have to make in 2 weeks at SUNY New Paltz. Most of these are more of an exploration of an idea rather than a finished piece of jewelry

Signs of Life

2009-09-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, just a quick post because I should be making 10 pieces for Wednesday, but I wanted to post the link to Facere's 2009 Signs of Life show. The show officially opens October 7th but you can view the work online here . If you are in the area for the opening I recommend going and taking pictures for me because I unfortunately, will be stuck in the studio trying to figure out what on earth to make for my thesis. eeek!

2009-07-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some better pictures of my beehive pieces although I would like to get the necklace photographed outdoors somewhere to give it some context.

Swarm detail
Swarm, necklace
leather, bronze, stainless steel
Beehive brooches
leather, bronze, stainless steel

Beehive brooches detail

Well that's all for now, although I am working on carving some handles for the cake serving ware for YokoTazaki and Sean McMullen's wedding which should be a blast!! I 'll be sure to post pictures once their done. But right now I'm living in a world of wood dust as I am forced to carve in my apartment having been kicked out of the studio at SUNY New Paltz till classes begin. The start of which both cannot come soon enough and yet is approaching way too fast. Actually come tho think of it I should be working on my 100 drawings assignment..... eeck!

Summer class part II

2009-07-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

Above are the students samples of leather Repousse and Pyrography. These techniques as well as the scrimshaw technique shown below prepared the the students for the second project.

Project #2: Surface
Every culture handles the treatment of surface decoration differently. In this project the students researched different decorative motifs in order to understand how each came to function within the society of its origins. Each student made a decorative motif in response to the motiff they researched. This motif was applied either my means of scrimshaw, leather burning, or leather stamping. Below are a few images of their work but you can visit the rest here.

Nicholas

Laura

Theresa

Sarah

Summer Class

2009-07-07T11:53:00.001-07:00

I just finished teaching a class titled "Not Metal Jewelry" in SUNY New Paltz's summer program. It was only a five week class but the students managed to get a lot of work done regardless. The class covered techniques such as small wood carving, leather working, and scrimshaw. The picture above are the samples the students carved in wood. They were given the choice of carving either a soy bean (just as Sharon Church first taught me to carve), a habanero pepper, or a chinese water chestnut.

Their first project was called Structures. I left it a bit open but wanted them to choose a structure (such a skeletal structure) and either recreate that structure or use a structure as the support to make another piece. All of the pieces were made in wood, leather, or metal using the techniques learned in class. Bellow are a few pics of some of my students work. click here to view the rest.

Justine

Preston

Rebecca

Becky

Heather

More bees

2009-06-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

I forgot to post these in my last post. After I completed the bee hive necklace I was interested in making some accessories that would look like they were imposing on the body in nontraditional ways. Like the necklace these pieces are made out of Leather, Bronze, and stainless steel.

I will hopefully be getting better pictures of the necklace soon. Until then I'm busy getting ready to move to New Paltz (hurray no more commuting!) and teaching my class "Not Metal Jewelry" at SUNY New Paltz. Despite the title there is some metal involved so fear not.

busy as a bee

2009-05-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

This semester flew by and I am still recovering from it. It has literally left me speechless as I have come down withlaryngitis. But it was well worth it. It 's been a while and since I have posted anything so I better bring y'all up to speed.

I am proud to have been a part of Decorative Resurgence which was up from April 21-May 24. The show was juried by Jill Baker Gower and Jessica Calderwood, Assistant Professor of Art at The University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. It was an international exhibition of contemporary jewelry and metalwork inspired by historic decoration and ornamentation including 90 artworks from 72 artists. There is a beautiful full color catalog, which I am eagerly awaiting in the mail. Below is my piece "The hunt for the White Stag" which was in the show.

I was also invited to take part in the Hudson Fulton: Take Two

The first pin was created for the 1909 Hudson-Fulton celebration. The image below it is my response to the original piece. If you ask me the original is far more cool but I'm banking on the fact that by the time the next centinal celebration of the discovery of the Hudson river comes along my piece will be an antique then too.

This past weekend I attended the 40th SNAG conference which took in Philadelphia, my home away from home. It was really good to be back and see a lot of familiar faces. On Thursday I was really happy to be a part of Jewelry in Motion, a jewelry runway show held at the Philadelphia Museum of art. I owe a big thanks to Gail Brown who invited me to take part in the event and to my model Mallory Weston who did a fabulous job. Below are some pictures from the night.

Tomorrow I begin teaching my class Not Metal Jewelry at SUNY New Paltz which I am very excited about. And thats about all for now. ok time to feed the cats.

new work

2009-04-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

hot off the bench...

2009-02-26T17:43:00.001-08:00

End of the Semester!

2008-12-20T18:16:00.000-08:00

Well I made it through my first semester of grad school!
Below are some images of my work and the some of my samples that I made during the semester. I have been trying out enameling and electroforming which has been a bit of a headache. Right now i am a bit sick of these processes but maybe the winter break will do me some good.

School Days...

2008-10-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted but I must admit that I have been a little over whelmed with grad school. I don't even feel like I have been making a lot its more like I have just been thinking a lot about what I want to make and how to make it and why I want to make it and all that sort. Man I am tired just mentioning all this thought process that has been going on in my head.

Anyway school has indeed officially begun and above are pictures of my fabulous studio space. I have a jewelers bench, desk and soldering station all to myself! I love that Monika Krol and I used to share a space this big.

So far we have had a crit on the 100 drawings we had to do over the summer and a crit on the 10 pieces we had two weeks to make. The 10 pieces were basically supposed to be "sketches" in metal or at least in a 3-d form. Below are a few of the pieces I presented at the crit. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos but I hope you at least get the picture. For these piece I was thinking a lot about judgment or in some cases the absurdity of it.

The Last two piece of my 10 were these two little quirky chairs made from brass mesh. There is something about them that I really enjoy and I am not quite sure what it is. So I wanted to explore this idea of "the chair" and all its meanings. I have come to think of the chair as a status symbol; literally where you sit in society. I have begun working on a few projects dealing with chairs but none of them are in any way resolved yet. In fact after a discussion I had with my teacher Myra Mimlitsch-Gray they may be extremely altered. Who knows maybe I will even stop working on leather altogether! but here they are in their currant state.

So that's all I have for now I will try to add more soon. but in order to do that I must get back to work!

Time to take it easy

2008-07-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

"The Princess and the Pea"

Thanks to the help of the wonderful, talented and good looking Chris Whetzel my website has been updated! All of the new work from the show at Art Star is now on it. You can also view all of the work in the show at Art Star's website. The opening went really well and I would just like to thank every one that came. It was wonderful to see so many formilar faces. If you haven't seen the show it will be up till Sept. 1st so you have some time to stop in.

So now that the opening is over I am back in NY hanging out and trying to get my life in order. I was supposed to be at Snow Farm, New England School of Craft but they had a bit of a scheduling mishap which resulted in me not getting to teach. Oh well. I suppose its for the better since I seem to have come down with a summer cold.

Once I beat this cold I am going to finish the "100 drawings" I have to do for the start of classes at SUNY New Paltz. Perhaps i will post some of my sketches next time. Just remember that I am a jeweler not an illustrator.

"The Goose Who Laid the Golden Egg"

One week till the show...

2008-07-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened since my last post. First of all, I've moved to Beacon, NY. It's a cute artsy town on the Hudson about an hr train ride from NYC. I love the new apartment but I'm still getting used to not being in a city and away from all of my friends. I'm Sure I will meet plenty of new people once school starts. Until then, I will be heading back to Philly on Wednesday to set up the show at Art Star. The opening is next Saturday the 19th from 5-9pm. In addition to the new work from the AYM Collective there will also be live music courtesy of Jack McBrearty and light refreshments. After the opening I will be heading up to Snow Farm, New England School of Craft in Mass. to help teach metals/jewelry to high school students. After the craziness of the show and moving it will be nice to escape to the Berkshires for two weeks. My only regret is that ill be leaving Chris with no one but the cats in our new apartment. Hopefully he will make some friends to go fishing with in the brook across the street.

So as of today all of my work for the show is finished! I still have to photograph the last two but
below is a brooch titled, The Hunt for the White Stag. It is made of leather, stainless steel, sterling silver, 10k gold
So now that all of the work is done I really have to get down to business on completing 100 sketches. Thankfully there are some good coffee shops in town where Chris and can go to get some work done. Oh we discovered that Beacon 's art galleries all have openings on the second Friday of the month. Open Space, the gallery right below us has shows some interesting work. I was really taken with a large piece by Iminent Disaster. If I had the money I would definitely commission her to make a piece for our mantel. Maybe she would be interested in a trade. Any way check it out. I'm off to bed. Good night and sweet dreams.

Hard at Work vs. Hardly Working

2008-05-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well I have finally done it, I have begun my blog. It only took me about two months since creating this account. To give my self some credit I have been a bit busy with preparing for my move to NY for grad school next year at SUNY New Paltz. I have also been busy preparing for an upcoming show at Art Star with Monkia Krol and Yoko Tazaki. So far I have 2 piece finished and 2 more underway. I will hopefully have Six new pieces for the opening on July 19th.

Below are the two finished pieces...

The Title of our show is "My Royalty." I chose to approach the topic by identifying aspects which I associate with royalty rather than depict a specific person I consider to be royal. When I think of royalty I first think of the pursuit of the throne so most of my pieces will actually be from the perspective of one who is about to become royal or about to lose their power depending on how you look at it. In the first piece the girl is reaching for the golden apple, about to gain the glory of all its knowledge or if you are a follower of the bible she is about to loose her place in Eden. In carving the bird I wanted to capture the energy of royalty. I chose to have him grasping a golden apple as I am using it in both of these pieces to symbolize my ideal "royalty." Can you tell I like apples? I don't think, however, that there will be any other fruits in the next few pieces to come. I am back on my deer and skull kick. When will I stop being so morbid? oh well as long as the pieces are well made maybe I will find a kindred spirit to buy them.